Banana-protector.



J. J. BURK,

BANANA PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED nsc. 9. i916.

152M354, Patented Oct. 30,1917.

inventqr BANANA-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 9, 1918. Serial No. 136,043.

To all LO/1,0122 it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JOHN J. BURK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Decatur, in the county of Morgan and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Banana-Protector, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a device for protecting a suspended bunch of bananas, and to exclude insects therefrom and prevent theft, and it is the object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of that character, which at the same time permits of the display of the bananas.

The present protector is of novel construction in order that it can be opened for removing the bananas from the stock, and the device is provided with novel means for ap plying it to the suspending cord or wire of the bananas, and it is further provided with means for removing loose or rotted bananas which drop to the bottom of the protector.

The invention also has for its object the provision of a banana protector which is simple and inexpensive in construction, which can be readily applied and removed, and which is efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a side elevation of the protector.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

The protector embodies a casing having perforated or reticulated walls, and as illustrated is of cylindrical form, although it may be of any other suitable shape. The casing embodies a pair of opposite side frames 1 constructed of wire or other suitable material and of sen1i-circular cross section so that the two complementing frames provide the cylindrical structure. Meshed wire panels 2 are secured to the frames 1 to complete the casing, and to exclude insects from the bananas which the casing surrounds. The wire mesh panels 2 permit of ventilation, however, and also enable the bananas to be observed, and they have the further function of preventing the unwarranted touching and theft of the bananas. The casing is provided with a hopper bottom 3 the two halves of which are carried by the lower ends of the two side sections of the casing, and two adjacent edges of the frames 1, are hinged, as at a, to an upright supporting bar 5 which has its upper end secured to a disk-shaped top 6 of the cats ing. A suitable catch 7 is used for holding the free edges of the casing sections together, as seen in Fig. 3, and when the catch 7 is released, either section of the casing can be swung open.

The top 6 of the casing is provided with a radial slot 8 for the reception of the suspending cord or wire 9 of the bananas, and the slot 8 preferably extends from the center of the top 6 to the point diametrically opposite the bar 5, in order that the top 6 can be readily moved into place when the casing sections are swung open. It is thus an easy matter to apply the protector, and a pivoted member 10 can be carried by the top 6 to swing over the slot 8, whereby to close said slot and to maintain the protector in position, the top 6 thereof seating upon the knot of the suspending member 9 or the upper end of the stock.

The hopper bottom 3 is provided with a discharge opening, and a valve 11 is hinged, as at 12, to the lower angularly extending end of the bar 5 to swing upwardly for closing the opening of the hopper bottom, and said valve 11 can be held closed by a suitable catch 13. This valve 11 can be opened for discharging the loose bananas which drop from the bunch into the hopper bottom.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A device of the character described em- Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

bodying a casing having hinged sections as my own, I have hereto affixed my signaadapitjed to be swimg opienland havingia hopture in the presence of two Witnesses.

er ottom Wltl a (iscmr e o enin a T alve for closing said openi i ig, 5nd a 0p JOLIE BURK' for the casing having a slot for receiving a suspending member.

in testimony that I claim the foregoing Witnesses LAMAR PENNEY, E. D. WHITMAN.

@epies 0:? this pex'cen; may we obtained for five censs eaeh, by addressing Gommissioner 0i Eaienis, Washington, D. Q. 

